KENOMA // voice+memory

[devilmancrybaby]

[ This takes place the evening after the first event described in the Event Wrap Up post, the entity having withdrawn its influence from Venera.

Binghe is in a bit of a bad mood, having had to haul Makoto's unconscious body out of the street when he would have preferred to drop him in the ocean, and as things are currently he can't really be bothered to pretend that he's not. There's some attempt to be polite, but mostly he sounds kind of tired and cranky. ]

My apologies for the interruption. I am Luo Binghe. No doubt many of you have heard at least a little of what has happened lately in Venera. I was there for the event at the heart of it, so I thought perhaps it would be of some use to share a few of the details.

I am sure it will not come as any great shock to learn it seems to have been the fault of that dog Estinien Wyrmblood. The spirit that seems to have been responsible for what has been happening was so angered by his death that it appeared to smite anyone who tried to keep it from... I don't know, I think it wanted his shard. I don't know what it would have done with it. Kept him as a pet, perhaps, in one of its illusions.

If I am honest, whatever this thing was it seemed rather simple, like the ghost of a child, but it clearly possessed immense power. The Aions of Pleroma who were there, their unconvincing promises about—taking care of him in its stead, that kind of thing. That was enough to convince it to retreat.

I think it did something to them, though. I'll show you.

[ He shares his memory of this moment, when the mass of wings demanded that those gathered keep their promise, grasping onto those closest to it with its ethereal hands.

The image fades and Binghe's voice resumes: ]

So the problem has been solved, but only temporarily. The spirit was not destroyed, and it seems if these Aions fail to fulfil its whims it may return with something worse. It might not be so easy to persuade next time.

Comments

[vapour]

[ hm. ]

Do you think it'll be our problem if they screw up or just theirs?

[devilmancrybaby]

You heard what it said, didn't you? "I will reign eternal" doesn't really sound like it's planning to only reign over them.

[galdorleod]

...what? A spirit? [ That's what all those ghostly wings were in the sky yesterday??

And — ]

Estinien's Shard?

[ Why does he feel like Binghe is burying the lede here. Burying TEN THOUSAND ledes. ]

What happened??

[devilmancrybaby]

A spirit or something like it. I couldn't claim to know its exact taxonomy.

[ He shrugs; obviously it's not visible, but he is conveying Shrug Energy. ]

Estinien Wyrmblood was killed in Venera. The Pleroma saved his shard, though, so I expect he'll come back.

Does that answer your questions?

[lachtara]

[ He doesn't leave a comment exactly, but there is sort of a...silent regard in knowing how he views Estinien. ]

[hundredpower]

For the benefit of those of us who haven't met him, who is Estinien Wyrmblood? What's his significance to have that... [being called a 'dog'] ...particular reputation?

[lockedon]

[ Hi Bunny, what's up. ]

He's one of the more [ hmmm ] ruthless members of the Pleroma. Skilled in both use of martial weapons as well as combat magic.

[ He passes along the notes taken during their first gossip info-sharing session, along with an image. ]

If you don't know what you're doing against him, I suggest you stay clear.

general psa.

[subsist]

[ just because he doesn't want to see any more reckless attempts... ]

A fair warning, if I may. Should you happen to encounter this entity, do not aggravate it unnecessarily. We're not entirely certain of the full scope of its abilities but it has proven to be quite resourceful. It's impervious to bullets for example.

So do try to be smart about it.

not a real reply... he's just reading this

[affal]

[lachtara]

Dare I ask how you know of its imperviousness to bullets.

[hundredpower]

When you say it's impervious to bullets, what happened, exactly? Did it deflect them, absorb them, or was it simply unscathed when hit directly?

There might come a time when we have no choice but to fight it, so the more detail you can offer, the better.

[galdorleod]

If you were there, tell us what happened.

[vapour]

I suppose even children know how to bite when angry.

[affal]

( he really, and for a variety of reasons, hadn't wanted to say anything.

but it really looks like his "saviors" from this whole predicament are determined to be obtuse here, so...

preempted by a derisive mental sigh: ) I killed him.

( and if I hear a single challenging or accusatory word from any of you, I will fucking lose it. )

[vapour]

[ ...bigggggg cheeky smile over here. It can be practically felt in the communion silence that preempts his actual comment. ]

Wow, incredible.

[galdorleod]

[ Howl already knows by the time M finally speaks up, but his words capture all of his attention all the same. The presence of the wizard's psyche is apparent, sitting silently in the wake of the brief response, until he finally says something. ]

Are you alright? Are you hurt?

[ What he really wants to ask is what the bloody hell happened, but that can wait. What he's heard so far has him seriously concerned for the demon's well-being, and there have been few details on that particular point. ]

not here :)

[epiprocta]

[ Hahaha, for real? M was the one who got his idiot ass laser-beamed for swooping in after he did the dirty work of actually fighting Estinien? ... Eat shit. Serves him right for being such a cowardly little rat, as always.

Maybe Makoto will feel a faint prickle down his spine (or the urge to sneeze) as Gen dwells over this message for a moment. But he has no reason to volunteer any information publicly, so -- there's nothing here, don't worry about it! ]

vibes only

[devilmancrybaby]

[ 😡 ]

[lachtara]

It seems you are hale and whole after the encounter. [ That's about as much acknowledgment as he is willing to offer. ]

I would like to see your memories of what transpired, it will leave room for less needlessly bothersome questions.

[ Is he requesting that he see Estinien die? Yes. It would be the easiest way to piece the information together. ]

[fightforthejoyofit]

How?

[He has no bones about just asking, since everyone else seems to be rather dancing around the point. The tone is curious, rather than disbelieving]

additional report

[gravings]

[ Gray's voice as it quietly pipes up is audibly pained as a result of the memory shared. On the upside, it distracts her from her normal terror of public speaking. ]

That spirit... was the manifestation of the Legacy of the Innocent. It said the disease that's befallen Venera is its "gift."

Actually, I've felt its presence since the beginning of the month. I didn't know what it was... until it spoke to us Innocents when we were together.

[lachtara]

You were able to "feel" its presence in what way?

[lockedon]

What else did it say?

+1 additional report

[hikikosaurus]

[There's just so much happening in this communion that Alphys has some real regrets about gripping her shard to listen in. Estinien died? It was all some angel-like legacy, threatening to take over if they don't prove themselves to it? It's a little overwhelming. But there's a sense of responsibility and guilt about the details, that urges her to speak up.]

Ummm... I also, that last day... I mean.

[Bracing herself. Like a public speech, except without any prepared notes, which really doesn't help much...]

Lover, here! Alphys. I w-was also hearing something whispering, the last couple days. After I got i-infected. About... how it wanted to protect us, from suffering. And offering to help. It felt... I mean, while I was infected, it felt, um. Nice.

[devilmancrybaby]

It did. But didn't that just make it worse when you found out it wasn't real?

better late than never i hope ....

[semicharmed]

[ Well.

This mental missive is ... it's a rich text, that's for sure. Especially with the additional perspective the others bring to the story. Matt spends a little while digesting all the new information before he attempts a reply. ]

Thank you for sharing all this, [ he begins.

He's going to have to ask Abel if Estinien's okay. Not that Matt knows anything about him apart from his violent reputation, and he knows intellectually that Estinien should be okay if his shard remained intact. ]

Pardon me if this has already been like, brought up--maybe I'm osmosing it from someone else--but if this entity was an aspect of the Innocent Legacy, or identified itself as such ... does that mean there might be more like it?

[tohell]

Take a lesson from your basic run-of-the-mill polytheistic religion. Where there's one "godly" manifestation of something- seasons, months, etcetera, there's always more.

[ The subtle undercurrent of forced cheer flickering through Communion, providing the candy-coating for a decidedly less pleasant mood, is likely some indication that J is being intentionally facetious here. ]

If it's any consolation for the dreadful idea that Sky Mommy's siblings are lurking out there, I have a tasty little anecdote that might lighten up that thought.